How to get published?

[aries64xx]

First of all I forgot to introduce myself, I kind of just started posting a little bit without a proper introduction. My name is Melissa, but you can call me by my user name or whatever you want to. I have a Nikon D3000 and I absolutely love it. I'm really bad at introductions.

Anyway, my career goal is to become a world photographer and work for Time Magazine or National Geographic. I'm starting college (late-ish) full time in the fall and I know that they'll probably answer my biggest question I have right now: how do I get into working for a magazine? In the meantime, I'd like to at least submit my work into competitions and get my work published, even if it's just an unknown photography magazine or book or something along those lines. But I have no idea where to look. I live in the USA and like I said, I have no idea where to look for competitions or how to get published in something.

Any ideas would be wonderful, or helpful tips. Whatever you can come up with to help me. Thanks!

[andyw]

Study your target markets.

Start of buying this book Amazon.com: photographers market 2012

or in the UK the Freelance Photographers Market handbook.

They list thousands of publications which buy freelance submissions.

Go to your local newsagent/library/supermarket etc and look at the shelves of magazines.
Have a look at the photography used in them, ensure that before you submit either images or ideas to the picture editor/editor that you are aware of and can shoot in the style that they use.

Very few magazines have staff snappers these days. Most of the content is taken by freelancers either on commission or from speculative submissions.
There are loads of opportunities out there for people who can supply the massive demand. It is not great pay initially but once you get known then you get on the list to be called when commisisons or specific requirements come up.

[Jim Bryant]

Originally Posted by aries64xx

Anyway, my career goal is to become a world photographer and work for Time Magazine or National Geographic.!

You have to find out who the photo editors are, keep sending them portfolios, recent pictures and don't give up. However, there are thousands that do the same thing. If you want a sure way into National geographic win the College Photographer of the Year title, you'll get an internship from National Geographic Society.

[faeriegodess612]

I really wouldnt know anything about this,..but I do have an idea,..only because I've been considering it myself.

Try your local publications. Newspapers,..magazines. I've thought about submitting some photos to Texas Monthly, because they are a pretty big deal here. Try submitting photos OF local tourist attractions, TO local tourist attractions.

Remember,...you gotta crawl before you can walk.

[Jim Bryant]

True.......ya gotta pay your dues. None of the big magazines are going to hire you just right out of college with no real world experience.

[APhotoSchool]

I wrote an article specifically on getting published that should really help you! Here's a link to it: Get Published

Good luck with your photography, and remember to stick with it! It's the people who commit and keep trying that make it as photographers!

[aries64xx]

Thanks for the help everyone, sorry for the delay in response. I got horribly sick after I posted this and I haven't been on the computer much.

I'll definitely check into it.

Originally Posted by Jim Bryant

True.......ya gotta pay your dues. None of the big magazines are going to hire you just right out of college with no real world experience.

They hired me with zero photographic experience or schooling

[Jim Bryant]

Originally Posted by maxharvard

They hired me with zero photographic experience or schooling

That's because I led your hand through the process. Remember, now you are a Bryant trained man!

Besides, you were already specialized in car photography and could already take some mighty fine car photos.

Originally Posted by Jim Bryant

That's because I led your hand through the process. Remember, now you are a Bryant trained man!

Besides, you were already specialized in car photography and could already take some mighty fine car photos.

Held me han-- why you smart-assed jack-a-nape... I oughtta!!

Nah, it was great help. As always it is/has been/was appreciated

I hadn't specialized in autos until they started using some of my features, then it just took off.